Baylor’s formulation of counting on switch guards helped carry the Bears to the 2021 nationwide title, and this system seems to be doubling down on that plan transferring ahead. Former Georgetown and Arizona guard James Akinjo, a first-team All-Pac-12 performer this season, introduced Friday that he’s transferring to Baylor.

Akinjo led Arizona in scoring at 15.6 factors per recreation on 40.8% 3-point taking pictures as a junior within the 2020-21 season whereas additionally handing out a team-best 5.4 assists per recreation. The previous four-star prospect was a top-100 recruit within the Class of 2018, in line with the 247Sports Composite. 

He was the Large East Freshman of the 12 months at Georgetown within the 2018-19 season earlier than deciding to switch seven video games into his sophomore season as the autumn semester concluded. Akinjo acquired a waiver for speedy eligibility final fall that enabled him to play in Arizona’s video games in the course of the fall semester this previous season.

As a result of Akinjo acquired that clearance for speedy eligibility as a mid-year switch final season, it is not clear when he is likely to be eligible at Baylor. The NCAA is clearing the best way for gamers to obtain speedy eligibility the primary time they switch. However since Akinjo already acquired speedy eligibility final season, he may have a waiver at Baylor.

No matter when he fits up for the Bears, Akinjo figures to be a drive within the Large 12. At 6-foot-1 and with a slender body, he is struggled to attain contained in the arc at occasions throughout his school profession, however he is a dynamic playmaker who’s a confirmed exterior shooter and distributor.

Baylor relied closely upon Auburn switch Davion Mitchell, UNC Asheville switch MaCio Teague and Presbyterian switch Adam Flagler within the backcourt throughout its run to the nationwide championship this yr. The Last 4’s Most Excellent Participant, Jared Butler, additionally got here to Baylor from Auburn, though he by no means suited up for the Tigers.

Akinjo will merely be the most recent in that lineage of star switch guards to swimsuit up for coach Scott Drew, who has change into a savant of figuring out good matches on the switch market.